TheCable

Bola Tinubu, national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), was not among the chieftains of the ruling party who witnessed the inauguration of the federal executive council in Abuja on Wednesday.

John Oyegun, the party’s national chairman; Segun Oni, APC deputy national chairman (south); Bisi Akande, former governor of Osun state; Niyi Adebayo, former governor of Ekiti state, Tony Momoh, former minister of information, among others were at the presidential villa for the occasion.

But rather than join his partymen, Tinubu, who fought hard for the victory of the APC in the last election, decided to visit Kaduna to inspect some projects.

There have been speculations that Tinubu is unhappy with some developments in the ruling party.

Since June when the leadership of the eight assembly emerged against the wish of the APC, the former governor of Lagos has not been actively involved in the affairs of his party.

Though President Muhammadu Buhari initially expressed reservations over the emergence of the leadership of the assembly, it appears as if he has put the issue behind him but not Tinubu.

Bisi Akande and Tony Momoh at the swearing in ceremony

Last month, the influential politician said unlike Buhari, he was not under any constraint to reconcile with Saraki.

“Given the exigencies of his position, President Buhari is placed in an unenviable position to some degree. The duties of his office give him no choice; necessity constrains him, requiring that he discusses with Senator Saraki,” read a statement issued on Tinubu’s behalf by Sunday Dare, his spokesman.

However, Tinubu has congratulated the new ministers, maintaining that they have been selected to assist Nigeria in getting back from the brink.

He described them as “foot soldiers of change”, saying their assignment will not be “easy”.

“The people’s hope is hinged on the change our party promised. You are now the foot soldiers of that change. You have to be creative, proactive and bold,” read a statement issued by his media office.

“You are men and women of talent and experience of the moment and are lucky to be chosen. After the luck comes work. It is a new dawn for our country. Virtually every facet of our national life needs urgent attention.”

“Your assignment will not be easy. You bear the responsibility to move Nigeria forward into the rank of developed nations.”

While in Kaduna, Tinubu launched a cab scheme introduced by Nasir el-Rufai, governor of the state, and he also inspected a power plant project.